It took a while for me to become engaged in this cozy mystery. I came to like Camille, the amateur sleuth and heroine. I appreciate her wanting to change careers, quitting her junior college teaching job to go into the antiquities business, buying the store her parents had owned years before. This aspect of Camille's character will resonate with the baby boomers for whom Abbott writes. Her friend Opal was a bit over dramatized, flinging up her arms so often. I hope she is more mature in future novels.

I appreciate all the information in the book, such as investigating whether a book is old or a forgery. I also learned quite a bit about George Washington, the letters he wrote and the ones claimed to be his but identified as frauds. All the information included did slow down the plot movement however. I liked the setting. It sounds like a nice town with lots of history.

This is a good debut effort. It will be interesting to see how the characters grow in future novels. While Camille says she has no desire to solve future mysteries, we hope she does.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A 2.5 for me rounded up to a 3 for Goodreads. I liked parts of this book. The MC buying back her parents' old antique story was a cool premise for the story. The mystery itself was good and had potential but I feel like it could have been done better. The characters were only okay for me. I didn't really connect with them and there a few times that I wasn't wild with the direction the case was taking or something that a character said. I'll read the next book and see if it comes together a little bit better for me than this one.

As someone who enjoys cozy mysteries and antiques, I was drawn into the idea of a cozy mystery series that revolves around an antique store so I was excited to read this first book in a new series. Camille makes for a very interesting amateur sleuth. Being in her 50s, she is older than the leading ladies that I have typically seen in other cozies, so that was certainly a unique aspect (and one that I'm sure many readers will appreciate).She is smart and believable too. I'm not sure that her character completely drew me in just yet, but I do look forward to getting to know her better in future books too. The mystery was well thought out and an enjoyable read... leaving me excited to see what is going to happen next in the series too.

If you're looking for the next cozy to add to your TBR, be sure to check this one out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This is book 1 in a new series, Old Town Antiques. Set in Marthersville, VA, Camille has decided to buy the local antique store run by the meanest man in town. The day she signs the papers, he is found dead in the middle of the store. Hoping it's not a bad omen she decides to open anyway and discovers a lot of the furniture he has been selling is fake. That leads to lots of suspects. A nice beginning in a good setting with plenty of local characters to add to future books.

There must be a checklist going around on what elements are needed for a cozy mystery – nosey amateur sleuth, business they inherit but are never there to run, cute small town (which is Old Town Alexandria – why bother to change the names if you’re not changing the street names or anything else), bumbling police department – really, it’s getting tiresome. I was hoping for something new and different in a setting that I know and love. Instead, this was slow with unlikeable characters and it felt like the author was just trying to throw random facts in all over – history, music, sports. I will not continue with this series.

Good start for a new cozy series, I enjoyed it and the solid mystery kept me guessing. I liked the well developed characters and the setting.
Can't wait to read the next
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This was a fun mystery about a 55-year-old woman who is tired of her career teaching at a community college and jumps at the chance to purchase and re-open her parents' antique shop. The owner she is buying from, dubbed the "meanest man in town" by the locals is a tight-fisted grouch who seems to specialize in as many forgeries and misrepresentations as he does legit antiques.

No surprise he ends up murdered and the list of people who didn't want him dead is shorter than the suspect list. The main character, Camille, sets out with no intentions other than to re-open her shop and to make it a place not remembered as the shop where the man was murdered. However, during her endeavors she uncovers clues and winds up possibly solving the mystery...at the expense of her own safety.

My one issue is there are a lot of characters in this book with their own subplots to keep track of and sometimes I had a hard time with remembering who was what in relation to whom. I almost put the book down but glad I powered through because it ended up being very good. Somewhat atypical outline for a cozy but a perfectly good mystery to spend an afternoon.

I’m always on the hunt for new cozy mystery series to try, so when I came across Dead Men Don’t Decorate, I snatched up the book. It’s the first in the Old Towne Antique Mystery by a new-to-me author, Cordy Abbott.

The book follows Camille. She’s a 50-something teacher who is burnt out in her job and doesn’t want to return to school. When she finds out that the antique shop that her parents used to own is up for sale, she decides to take a chance and buy it. But when the former owner, the meanest man in Marthasville, ends up dead in her new shop, she can’t just stand by and wait for the police to solve the mystery.

I had a hard time getting into the story at first. There were a lot of character introductions and world setting that pulled it down a bit at the beginning of the story. It did pick up and got better, but there were moments where the story would get bogged down with history lessons that just seemed to be too much irrelevant information. It was a big information dump which, I believe, was intended to show that Camille was knowledgeable in antiques, but was, in the end, just overwhelming.

I mostly liked Camille. She’s relatable, but I saw little growth. Her “relationship” with her new landlord, who also looks to be the love interest, got off to a rocky start, and I really didn’t like how she handled it.

Her best friend, Opal, was a bit too outrageous for my tastes, and I’m hoping she calms down as the series progresses. There’s also her son, who happens to be the town’s new mayor, the city attorney, the police chief, and the detective to round out the main cast. Most characters still needed to be developed to get much of a read on where their characters will go during the series.

The plot was interesting, with several twists. It just got bogged down, as I mentioned earlier, with a lot of information that could have been pared down and been just as effective and less tedious. I figured out pieces of the mystery but not the complete motive.

Dead Men Don’t Decorate wasn’t a bad story, but it also wasn’t my favorite read of the year. It’s a solid first book in a series with good writing. It just suffered from information overload. I’ll try the next book in the series in hopes that it’s a little more focused and we can get more character development.

Waited4You is for sale, and Camille is happy to buy back her parent’s old antique store. But before she can even get started on renovations, the previous owner’s body is found in the middle of the showroom. To make matters worse, it appears that an old letter from George Washington has gone missing from the shop. Now it is up to Camille and her sidekick, Opal, to discover if the letter was real or a fake; and who killed the former highly disliked shop owner.

In Dead Men Don’t Decorate, suspects come out of the woodwork in this debut book in the “An Old Town Antique Mystery” series. No one will miss the victim; he was universally disliked, even hated by some. The letter from George Washington may or may not be real, and if it is, it would be worth millions. Camille also discovers that not all the antiques in Waited4You are real. Evidence stacks up, but no one, not even the police, is sure who it points to. It could be another business owner who despised the victim, his ex-wife, or someone he swindled in a faux antique furniture deal, or even Camille’s new landlord.

Virginia is a beautiful state, and many series use it as the backdrop for murder and mystery. It is obvious that the author has lived and played in this picturesque location. Unfortunately, most of the characters in this first book are not likable. Camille is wishy-washy, her best friend is a little too easygoing, and her love interest for Camille is unlikely to go anywhere. The story gets bogged down in descriptions readers don’t need and not enough of the ones they do. Waited4You sounds lovely, but we don’t get a good sense of what it looks like or its history other than it once belonged to Camille’s parents. The little information the author gives readers about the past or the victim does not help solve the crime. The George Washington letter is important but doesn’t seem to be a priority for the police. Readers will know almost immediately who the killer is, with a motive that is also easy to figure out. And... I don’t think the title is fitting; it doesn’t really have anything to do with the storyline.

In general, Dead Men Don’t Decorate is an okay first book, but it’s nothing to write home about. Not that I won’t read the next one in the series. I hope Waited4You becomes more descriptive and integral to future plots and that no more letters are found to distract readers. I did not hate any of the characters, but I hope that they have a massive growth streak between this book and the next and that the writing becomes more fluid with less unneeded information and more action.

This book was a pleasant surprise. For a first in a series book a lot of the issues I normally see weren't with this one. The characters were well developed and introduced to me in a way that made sense. The mystery was interesting and involved quite a lot of characters but it was not overwhelming to keep track of. I enjoyed how we are joining Camille at the beginning of a new journey for her as she opens her new antique business.

The only thing that was lacking the romantic interest but I have a feeling it will be developing as the story continues.

I look forward to reading more of this series.

Camille Benson is a local community college professor in Northern Virginia when she hears that the antique shop, Waited4You, is for sale. Her best friend, Opal Wells, a cruise boat captain, and several shop owners near Waited4You suggest Camille buy and run the shop. They include Deb Burfoot, the owner of the children's clothing shop, and Noah and Helen Margalit from their gallery and framing shop, Margalit's. Roberto Fratelli is the man selling up. Camille's parents used to own Waited4You before Fratelli, so Camille decides to buy it. Brennan Adler owns the building occupied by Waited4You. Opal mentions the presence of a letter hidden in a leather case under a chair she saw which excites Camille, but when they go to the shop to retrieve it, they find Fratelli dead, in a large puddle of blood.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Marthasville in the company of fifty-five-year-old Camille and her dogs, Stickley and Morris, two standard schnauzers. The story is well plotted, the writing has a good natural flow and Camille is smart and savvy.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my own request, from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is the beginning of a new series that I think will be a fun one to read. Camille Benson lives in Marthasville, Virginia near DC. She grew up spending her time in her parents' antique store and when it comes on the market, she decides to buy it and not return to her job as a college professor. The ink is barely dry on the sale when the past, grumpy owner who had turned over the keys to her, is found murdered inside the shop. Camille and her best friend Opal put their heads together to figure out what is going on and there are several different odds things that cannot be explained. As in most small towns, most people know each other, and Camille and Opal know people with the police force and are close to the commonwealth attorney, Janie, who feeds them information from the investigation. Camille's son has just been elected mayor. Opal is a little wacky but adds quirkiness to the situation. Fun read with a good, multilayered mystery and a small pool of suspects. Big stars of the book are Camille's pups and Janie and her boyfriend and police detective Nick's pup, who all steal the show. For cozy mystery lovers, especially those who enjoy those with canines. I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.

There was a lot I liked about this book. The main character, Camille, is a bit older then the typical cozy heroine and is taking over the antique store as kind of a second profession. While she grew up in the antique store world she's new to running a store so she's having to scramble to get things figured out. I absolutely loved that Camille has dogs. Cats are the usual animal sidekick of choice cozy mysteries so I'm always absolutely delighted to see dogs. Camille is a long time resident of Marthasville and her son is the newly elected mayor so this makes for a nice community feel that always makes a cozy series more enjoyable.

What kept this book from being a winner for me was the pace. There's so much description and dialogue that it makes the book feel a bit blocky and awkward and made for a slower read then I prefer. The mystery was good and there's enough that I did enjoy that I will try the second book in the series but it's not on my list of must reads.

This has the potential to be a fun series. It has a likable main character, a good setting and an interesting premise. I'm hoping that now that world of the series has been setup the pace of future books will improve.

Dead Men Don’t Decorate is the first book in the Old Town Antiques Mystery series by Cordy Abbott.

Camille is a local community college professor when she learns the antique store, Waited4You, is for sale. Her best friend Opal and several shops near the antique store suggest Camille buy and run the shop. Roberto Fratelli is a curmudgeon and rude to customers who enter the store. Camille finally decides to purchase the store. Camille and Opal are at a nearby bar when Camille notices their landlord, Brennan Adler. Camille invites him to join them. Shortly after, Adler joins them, and Opal informs Camille that there was a letter pouch under one of the chairs in the store that had a letter to George dated 1700 something. Upon leaving, Camille and Opal return to Waited4You to retrieve the letter. But instead, they find the lifeless body of Fratelli on the floor of the shop, and the letter is no longer there. As Camille rearranges items in the store, she comes across a table that Fratelli has listed as Victorian. She examines the table closer and realizes it is not from the Victorian period. She begins to wonder if Fratelli was killed for the letter, which, if it were real, would be a very valuable find, or if he was killed by someone to whom he sold fake antiques.

This first book in the Old Town Antique Mystery series was fascinating. Miss Abbott did an excellent job describing Marthasville. The story is well-written and plotted and reads at a nice pace. The character is well-developed and interesting. I particularly enjoyed reading about Camille’s two Schnauzers, Stickley and Morris. It will be interesting to see if Camille and Brennan can put their disagreement aside.

I knew when I found out that Cordy Abbott is really Lane Stone whose books I read in the Pet Palace series that I'd like this book, and there'd be plenty of cute dogs and great local descriptions. I wasn't wrong, and I enjoyed both a lot. The shout out to the Pet Palace was cool and all I could think was "Yay for Sue, she's expanded into another location." lol.

Camille and Opal are a good match in friends. Opal's crazy and outspoken sometimes but she pairs well with her buddy's quieter nature. I wish things could've worked out for Camille and Brennan though since Opal's got her David. But maybe it'll happen in another book because the ending did sound hopeful in that regard.

Boy was that one exciting showdown! I'd sorta guessed whodunit or had a good idea of it. Camille really had to keep her head about her but luckily Rizzoli (unluckily for her since Rizzoli was a rambunctious puppy!) was along and sniffed out her missing daddy. What followed was some great action with a good dose of tenseness, but with some teamwork, the perp was caught.

Once everything was solved, it was easy to relax and know that some of the characters I wondered about could definitely be trusted. I really hope there's another book coming soon because there'd seem to be no end to mysteries you could find in an antique shop! And I loved the budding romance between Paul and Pepper as well as Janie and Nick. I'll be curious to see if little Rizzoli girl ever gets some puppy training!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

After having read this entertaining and well crafted cozy mystery I discovered that she has also written another series I enjoyed. She is Lane Stone who wrote the Pet Palace series. Be sure to check it out. She also has a post-graduate certificate in Antiquities Theft and Art Crime and it shows in this new series.
Camille Benson has the chance to buy Waited4You, the antiques store previously owned by her parents. The current owner decides to sell it and the majority of the town will be thrilled to see the back of him. That includes his ex-wife. After the celebration of Camille taking over the store he is found dead in the store and a valuable letter has gone missing. Things get interesting when it turns out that his ex-wife's current husband had business dealing with him and they weren't above board.
With the help of friends and family she sets out to find the killer and along the way we get to know Camille and her friend Opal, women we would like to call our friends. This is a mystery full of twists and turns and American history. I'll say no more for fear of spoilers but if you are looking for a great cozy from start to finish, give this one a try. I'm eager to find out what comes next.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I gave Dead Men Don't Decorate by Cordy Abbott 3.75 stars.

Roberto Fratelli, proprietor of the antiques store Waited4You, is the meanest man in Marthasville, Virginia. So when he puts the business up for sale, the other merchants in town are overjoyed. And now the business has a prospective buyer: local resident and the newly elected mayor's mom, Camille Benson, who’s thrilled at the prospect of getting into the antiques business. During a celebration in honor of Camille’s new venture, her best friend, Opal, tells her about finding a letter, purportedly from Sally Fairfax to George Washington, dated 1756, hidden under a chair in the shop. When they return to retrieve the cache, they find Roberto’s lifeless body on the floor and no letter.

Police question Ella Coleman, Roberto’s ex-wife, and discover that her current husband supplied Roberto with oh-so-faux Victorian furniture. Did the two cheat the wrong customer? Or could the murder be connected to an earlier theft of rare books from the shop—a theft Roberto never reported?

-------- REVIEW --------

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series, Old Town Antiques Mysteries. I like reading about history and historic artifacts, so a cozy mystery about an antiques store is something I really liked.

I struggled to get into the story in the beginning, but as it progressed I liked it more. It was confusing at times, probably because I couldn't focus in the beginning of the book. Although I did like it and it was refreshing with a sleuth in her fifties. There were some great dialogues and likeable characters too. Overall, it is a good book that kept me entertained for the moment.

This book comes out November 08.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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3.5 stars rounded up

Camille Benson is a professor at the local community college. She helped her son Paul win the election for Mayor. When she thought about going back to teaching she felt sad. She heard that her parents antique store was up for sale. So she decided to buy it. One night her friend Opal and her went to check out the store and found the previous owner's dead body.

This is the first book in the series. I didn't necessarily like any of the characters. More backstory is needed. The book took me awhile to finish. The mystery was well thought out and the writing was good.

The first title in Cordy Abbotts's An Old Town Antique Mystery Series, Dead men Don't Decorate, is off to a good start. Camille Benson feels stuck in a rut teaching art history at Northern Virginia Community College. Her son, Paul is the newly elected mayor of Marthasville, small suburb of Washington D.C. and she would like a change too. When Roberto Fratelli,( the meanest man in Marthasville) decides to sell Waited4You, the small antique store once owned by Camille' s parents, she sees this as the chance to change and buys the store. Camille and her BFF Opal Wells inventory the store's contents but after finishing and leaving the store they return to look for a mysterious old letter Opal saw taped to the bottom of a chair. The letter is missing, but Roberto's body is in the middle of the shop. Finding and authenticating the "Washington" letter, looking for the creator of the " fake antiques", uncovering Roberto's shady business dealings and weeding thru several suspects all combine for a fast paced, well done story. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

From the theme (Art, cozy mystery) to the Benjamin Gates vibe with "a secret dating back centuries", including the fact that it's a series debut, this novel had all the chances to make me hooked from chapter one. Sadly it fell flat for me. I'm disappointed because I really wanted to enjoy it. Too bad.